While outdoor digital signage has almost unlimited uses several key applications can really benefit from the implementation of an outdoors screen and are currently the most popular uses for outdoor digital signage.

Outdoor Digital Signage for Retail / Advertising

As with indoor digital signage, advertisers are implementing digital signage outdoors to take advantage of out of home audiences. The biggest advantage of outdoor advertising LCD screens in comparison to those indoors is the sheer size of the potential audience. Advertisers can reach far more people outside than they can by using advertising LCD screens in shopping malls and retail stores. By implementing outdoor advertising screens, retailers are also able to attract people to come into a retail store by using the screens to display promotions and tempting offers.

Outdoor Digital Signage for Transport

Outdoor digital signage is the perfect platform for displaying timetable and scheduling information in transport hubs such as train stations and bus depots. Because of its immediacy, an outdoor digital signage display can be updated instantly of the latest delays or arrivals, so passengers waiting outside on the platform or bus shelter can be kept informed.

Outdoor Digital Signage for Company Signage

Corporate communications is another use for outdoor digital signage. Whether it’s communicating with staff and drivers across a large site such as a distribution hub, or communicating to visitors and customers as they arrive, an outdoor screen provides a modern and efficient method of corporate communication. Because of its immediacy, important information can be communicated across a wide area and managers are able to contact staff that would be otherwise difficult to reach.

Outdoor Digital Signage for Colleges, Schools and Universities

Academic institutions are also benefiting from the immediacy of outdoor digital signage and the ability of the medium to reach large number of people spread out over a large area. Because staff, students and visitors may arrive at different times and at different entrances to an academic building, outdoor digital signage is an effective way of reaching everybody with important information. Unlike other forms of communication, such as email and traditional noticeboards, which need to be checked before information can be got across, outdoor digital signage reaches people on arrival. This can be crucial important during emergencies by preventing people from stumbling into a dangerous situation.

Outdoor Digital Signage for Public Buildings

Public buildings such as libraries, churches and other religious buildings have a need to communicate with the local community. Outdoor digital signage provides an efficient way of announcing events, opening times and spreading messages to visitors and the local community.

Outdoor Digital Signage – the Top five Applications is a post from: Armagard

 Both IP ratings and NEMA codes, such as the IP65 and NEMA 4, which are commonly associated with outdoor environments, denote the level of ingress protection an outdoor digital signage enclosure provides. Ingress is the protection offered by an enclosure in preventing foreign bodies from getting inside. These bodies may be dust, rain or snow, which while important to keep out in an outdoor environment, there is more to outdoor digital signage protection than just ingress protection.

While an IP65 digital signage enclosure (or a NEMA 4 enclosure) will offer a useful guide as to the environment it can operate in, it’s important to ensure an outdoor digital signage enclosure is equipped to deal with all the hazards that outdoor digital signage faces in operation.

Temperature for instance, is something not covered by either the IP rating system or the NEMA codes, and yet any IP65 digital signage enclosure not equipped to cope with the variable temperatures of an outdoor environment will soon fail. Both ranges of temperature, high heat and freezing cold, need defending against to prevent screen failure, so as well as ensuring a screen is waterproof to NEMA 4 or IP65, and IP65 digital signage enclosure also needs to be able to cope with seasonal temperature changes.

Physical protection is also something not covered by either the IP or NEMA rating system. Again, an outdoor digital signage system unable to cope with impacts, either accidental or deliberate vandalism, won’t last very long in an outdoor environment. For this reason outdoor digital signage enclosures need to be rugged enough to withstand impacts and attempts at vandalism.  This often means be solidly constructed from a tough material such as steel, as well as having some form of shatterproof screen protection that won’t smash.

Outdoor Digital Signage – Thinking Beyond IP and NEMA Ratings is a post from: Armagard

Outdoor digital signage requires planning

Outdoor screens face many challenges that indoor screens don’t, such as overcoming the problems caused by weather, extreme temperatures and risk of vandalism, not to mention overcoming the problems caused by installation in outdoor areas.

Objectives—the first step to installing outdoor digital signage is to establish clear objectives for what you want the screen to achieve. Whether it’s advertising, increasing brand awareness or providing important information, having clear goals can affect different aspects of the project, from size of screen to the location.

Location—finding the right location for the screen is crucial. Visibility is one of the most important aspects for outdoor digital signage and the position and location of the screen should be in the most visible location possible. By taking into account the approach of the intended audience, you should place the screen as near to eye-level as possible. Screens placed too high, such as suspended from ceilings, are all too easily unnoticed, but if you have to mount a screen high up, it should be tilted towards the eyes of the intended audience.

Screen type—because visibility is important, sing the largest screen size possible can help ensure maximum exposure. Other aspects to the type of screen used affect outdoor digital signage too; screens used outdoors need a much higher brightness level than indoor screens, due to having to compete with sunlight.

Protection—outdoor digital signage needs protection from the weather, temperature and need to be physically robust to deal with accidental impacts and vandalism. Often this causes the most challenging aspect of installing an outdoor digital signage display, although outdoor LCD enclosures offer simple but comprehensive outdoor protection.

Installation—digital signage requires power and, if on a network, access to a server too. Installing screens outdoors requires feeding wires through buildings and finding access points to connect. With individual screens, where content is uploaded directly to the screen, these problems are reduced.

Content—once installed, an outdoor digital signage screen is going to need something to display. Outdoor content also differs to the type of content used indoors. Dwell times and the distance and outdoor screen differ, with the average outdoor digital signage display viewed for less time and from farther away. Content needs, therefore, to be bold, prominent and to the point.

Planning Outdoor Digital Signage is a post from: Armagard

Various methods of interactivity are available such as touchscreens, but even standard outdoor LCD screens can be used interactively, thanks to a brand new app, available for smartphones.

Screach is a new and unique interactive digital media platform, which allows real-time, two-way interactive experiences between a smartphone and any screen. Using Screach, content developers can build interactive experiences for customers at no cost and in a matter of hours, such as live polling, gaming or quizzes.

Screach is cross-platform and available on most smart phone devices, iPhone and Android, with Blackberry, Symbian and Windows 7 coming in 2011.

An example of Screach interactivity can be seen below, with the large outdoor digital signage display outside the Westfield shopping centre in London being used to provide an interactive driving game, helping to promote car insurers Swift Cover.

Screach is available to download for smartphones at the usually app store locations, and for content developers, more information can be found at: http://www.screenreach.com/the-platform/

Screach App – Interactivity on any Outdoor Screen is a post from: Armagard

Digital signage does have some eco-friendly benefits. Compared to static signage, which has to be printed, delivered and manually posted up, content delivered on to digital signage screens has none of these environmental costs. It also saves paper, reducing the need to cut down trees; however, with the energy required to run a screen, digital signage certainly can’t call itself eco-friendly.

The energy consumed by an LCD screen can be quite high; this is due to the energy requirements of the backlight, which is necessary to ensure the image is visible. For outdoor digital signage that relies on high brightness screens, this energy consumption is even higher.

Fortunately, a new generation of LCD screens has arrived, which use alternative technologies to generate backlights, saving energy and providing a eco-friendlier solution. LED TVs, use an array of power-saving LED bulbs to backlight an LCD screen, saving energy whilst still producing just as bright an image. LED technology is even being deployed in high brightness screens, commonly used for outdoor digital signage, providing energy saving alternatives.

And LED technology is not the only methods being used in LCD screens to save energy. One of the biggest wastes of energy in LCD TV use is when the screens are in stand-by mode. During stand-by mode, while the screen may look off, it is still using energy—sometimes up to 15% of the power used when screen is on.

Now, modern LCD TV systems are becoming equipped with “eco chips” that enable the TV to be left on stand-by mode, while consuming absolutely no power. Essentially, these “eco chips” store power when the TV is on, releasing it slowly to provide enough energy to power the stand-by mode.

With more and more flat panel TVs built with energy saving in mind, combined with the paper and print saving benefits, digital signage is fast-becoming an eco friendly solution for communication.

Eco Friendly Digital Signage is a post from: Armagard

Digital signage enclosure--looks matter

And it’s not only the younger generation that use Twitter, social networking, iPads and other modern phenomenon, the technology is now ubiquitous in almost all demographics. Modern business is also reliant on utilising modern technology and communication methods, from regular Tweeting, blogging and have social networking presence, providing existing and potential customers with a technically savvy image is essential for maintaining a modern corporate reputation.

Digital signage plays a part in this scenario too. While so much business is conducted online, many companies still rely on visits from purchasers and customers, especially in retail and mid-sized manufacturing.

Presenting the right image is essential as impressions can make all the difference. Think of when you are shopping for a quality garment; how much time would you linger in a store where the clothing wasn’t folded and ordered properly, and it resembled a discount store?

The same is true of marketing and corporate messages. While traditional static signs, noticeboards and posters provide a simple and effective means of communication, they don’t offer any appearance of modernity. An outdoor digital signage display, with well-crafted content and housed in a stylish, functional and quality enclosure, looks more modern and helps generate a much better impression.

Too many digitals signage systems and integrators concentrate on the logistics of content delivery, which of course is important; however, a cheap-looking screen housed in a cheap-looking enclosure will give the impression of cheapness and not provide the aesthetic boost that may help improve a business’ reputation.

Digital signage is a visual medium so looks are important. A poorly presented screen will not get the same attention as a screen that looks more presentable, and therefore, won’t be as effective in achieving the goals set out for the screen.

Outdoor Screens and the Impression of Modernity is a post from: Armagard

The new rules, aimed at combating the sexualisation of children, means that any outdoor advertisement placed within 100 yards of a school will have to adhere to strict new guidelines enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

Wonderbra's Eva Herzigova advert, now too raunchy for outdoor advertisers

Even those outdoor adverts located nowhere near schools face tough new rules, with explicit imagery banned altogether. While outdoor adverts and outdoor digital signage will be allowed to show models wearing bikinis, they will not be allowed to show them in sexual poses or even use couples engaged in a “passionate clinch.”

The new rules mean many famous adverts, such as Wonderbra’s “Hello boys” campaign featuring Eva Herzigova in a bra, would be unlikely to pass the new ASA rules.

Industries particularly affected by the new rules will include clothing, perfume companies, celebrity magazines and companies that sell underwear who may have to change the way they promote their products.

The changes follow recommendations made in May by Christian charity the Mothers’ Union and will affect all types of outdoor adverts from static billboards to outdoor digital signage and those adverts located in public buildings such as airports, train stations and subways.

Critics of the new rules suggest that as children are just as exposed to other forms of media such as the internet and TV, restricting outdoor advertising is not only ineffective at reducing the sexualisation of children, but unfairly discriminates against outdoor advertisers

Provocative imagery has long been utilised by outdoor advertisers, but what is and what isn’t acceptable varies from country to country. In Eastern Europe, naked forms are a common sight on outdoor advertisements, while conservative countries such as the Middle East prohibit any imagery that is perceived as sexual.

Raunchy Outdoor Ads Banned in the UK is a post from: Armagard

High Definition

High definition provides better picture quality

Most televisions are now HD ready. High Definition provides a resolution far higher than that of a traditional television. High definition usually has over a million pixels per frame, normally five times greater than standard TV definition. HD provides a far clearer and noticeable image, ideal for attracting the attention of passersby.

Any High Definition on an outdoor digital signage screen, however, needs uploading and playing using a HD media player otherwise the will revert to standard definition on the screen.

High Brightness

Different to High Definition, high brightness screens are essential for locations with conditions of high ambient-brightness, such as outdoors. The standard brightness of a TV screen used at home is about 600 candela (a unit of luminance, also known as nits). The problem with outdoor areas is that often the ambient-brightness can often be higher than the brightness of a standard LCD screen. For this reason, high brightness screens are required for better visibility.

High brightness screens come with candela values several times greater than standard brightness displays. The brighter the outdoor area, the brighter the screen required, especially if the screen is facing the path of the sun to prevent glare from inhibiting the viewability of the screen.

Traditional LCD TVs used fluorescent lighting to generate the brightness of the display. Not only do these systems use large quantities of power, but they also generate lots of heat. Modern high brightness screens, however, implement LED technology to generate brightness. These provide just as much luminance as fluorescent system but use far less power and generate less heat. LED backlit LCD TVs also have a longer half-life than fluorescent systems, providing higher brightness levels for a lot longer.

High Definition and High Brightness for Outdoor Digital Signage is a post from: Armagard

All-in-one floor standing unit

Now, with the falling cost of LCD displays and an increase in manufacturers, now installing a digital signage system can be incredibly simple.

All-in-one digital signage systems contain all the hardware necessary to operate and run a digital signage campaign. Often housed in a floor-standing enclosure, the all-in-one system contains both high definition screen and media player, enabling the uploading of content through a simple USB socket.

Floor standing units provide many benefits for a digital signage campaign. Unlike poster systems that are positioned flat against a wall and are easily missed by an audience, floor-standing digital signage units are prominent and provide a noticeable feature.

Ideally positioned in aisles, near checkouts, entrances and opposite elevators, floor-standing units provide an ideal platform to engage customers in a retail environment.

With fully integrated media player, most of these all-in-one systems provide some fundamental benefits, such as:

• Playback, loop play and shuffle play
• Both audio and video playback
• Compatible with most major video, audio an image codecs, including MPEG-1,MPEG-2, MPEG-3, MPEG-4 MP3,VOB,AVI
• Memory Cards systems compatible most standard SD card formats
• Auto play
• Built-in stereo speakers

With a wide range of sizes available including the most common 32”, 36” and 42” sizes, these floor-standing units are ideal for almost any indoor environment. However, these types of standalone system are not suitable for locations near external doors where windblown dust and rain could get into the system..

Floor standing outdoor enclosures do provide a simple and effective method in these locations, however. Also available in a variety of sizes, there is room enough inside the enclosure to house both the screen and a media player enabling simple and effective digital signage.

Standalone All-in-one Digital Signage – simple and engaging is a post from: Armagard

Indoor free-standing totem with personalised branding on the enclosure

These kiosk type displays are becoming a common sight in hotel lobbies, department stores, banks, and around shopping malls and retail stores. Unlike digital posters and other wall-mounted screens, standalone units’ great advantage over other forms of digital signage is their prominence.

Providing a noticeable and eye-catching feature, standalone units invite curiosity by their prominence, and this leads to more chance of people viewing the content. Some retail totems even take the opportunity of having branding on the digital signage housing itself, which provides an extra level of advertising that people notice, even if they don’t view the content.

There are of course disadvantages to these standalone systems, primarily in the amount of space they take up. For a retail environment, this is valuable real estate where items could be displayed for selling. One area of a store that is hardly used for sales, however, is near the entrance. Many large retail stores keep their doors open throughout the day and because of the need for people to get in an out, the space by the doors is rarely utilised.

Outdoor digital signage totem--ideal for foyers and doorways

A standalone digital signage display is ideal in these locations, however, as it becomes the first thing shoppers see when they enter the store, and placed in the right location it shouldn’t provide too much of an obstacle that prevents shoppers getting in and out.

Of course, with the risk of rain and windblown debris, most standalone units are not suitable for these near door locations as they could easily succumb to the weather elements. But outdoor systems, such as the Armagard freestanding totem, provide an ideal method of utilising a noticeable and prominent digital signage display in a location susceptible to the weather.

Built to with stand outdoor environments, with temperature control, weatherproof housing and steel enclosure, the freestanding totem is a portrait mode digital signage display that offers real prominence and is ideal for front of store and foyer locations.

Digital Signage Standalone Units is a post from: Armagard